What: the continuation of Walmart’s strategic realignment on US, China and India.

Why it is important: Walmart is downsizing significantly its worldwide activities to focus on core markets and activities.

After selling its stakes in UK’s Asda for the same price it bought it ten years ago, and announcing that it will retreat from Argentina as well, Walmart has announced its will to sell majority stakes in Japanese Seiyu. Walmart bought its shares two times, through the first round in 2002 and then in 2008 when it took full control. Its strategy to bring the American-way of retail to Japanese customers did not really take off, which explains this retreat today.

Walmart sells majority stake in Japanese supermarket chain